Collection of Ancient Chinese Opera Libretti

EVENT DESCRIPTION

An invaluable gift presented by Madame Peng Liyuan, the wife of President Xi Jinping, to the Xiqu Centre during her visit in 2022 has gone on display. A complete set of the Collection of Ancient Chinese Opera Libretti is now showcased at the 2/F Exhibition Area of the Xiqu Centre. Taking several decades to compile and publish, the Collection has significant historical and artistic value and represents a major milestone in the protection and promotion of Xiqu as part of the nation’s cultural heritage.

Madame Peng Liyuan graced Hong Kong with her presence as part of the celebrations to mark the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to China in 2022. Madame Peng visited the Xiqu Centre during her stay, watching a rehearsal of Cantonese opera excerpts by the Tea House Rising Stars Troupe at the Tea House Theatre and viewing an exhibition titled “A Thousand Faces: Cantonese Opera Legend Yau Sing-po”. Before concluding her visit, Madame Peng gifted the Collection of Ancient Chinese Opera Libretti to the Xiqu Centre to express her appreciation for the Centre’s efforts to preserve the traditions of Chinese opera and continue the development of the artform.

Spanning more than 600 years of Chinese opera history, the 10-volume Collection of Ancient Chinese Opera Libretti comprises 1,193 works of poetic dramas, legends and imperial palace dramas from the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties. The collection was conceived by literary historian Zheng Zhenduo (1898–1958), who dedicated his life to collating and compiling rare and unique Chinese opera scripts for future study and research.

The compilation of the Collection went through many ups and downs. After presiding over the publication of the first four volumes, Zheng passed away and the weighty responsibility was taken on by his student, Wu Xiaoling (1914–1995). Republished in the 1980s, the project stalled again until being restarted in 2012 and included in the “National Plan for the Collection and Publication of Ancient Chinese Books (2011-2020)”. The Collection was eventually republished in 2020, marking a remarkable achievement in the collation of ancient opera literature and literary research, and fulfilling the wishes of Chinese scholars to promote the beauty of traditional Chinese culture and preserve it for future generations.

The Xiqu Centre is delighted to be in possession of this invaluable collection, underscoring its vision to preserve the traditions of Chinese Opera and promote the development of the artform to the wider world. Members of the public can view this invaluable collection at the 2/F Exhibition Area of the Xiqu Centre from now through 31 August 2023, during the Centre’s regular opening hours from 10am to 10:30pm.